Chapter 186

Yoo Ju didn’t press Woo Seo-heun too hard at first.

Of course, that didn’t mean Yoo Ju trusted Woo Seo-heun.

‘Guess she’s just keeping an eye on her for now.’

Woo Seo-heun didn’t do anything particularly suspicious, but the fact that she hid her abilities made it hard for Yoo Ju to fully trust her.

Especially since this attack by the outlaws(?) happened not long after Woo Seo-heun joined Eternity.

“…I understand what you’re saying, Woo Seo-heun. I roughly get why you hid your abilities.”

“Th-that’s a relief. Thank you for believing me.”

“…But I don’t see hiding your job in a positive light. You’re not hiding anything else, are you?”

“No, really.”

‘Wow… lying without even batting an eye.’

Her lying skills were almost on par with mine.

“Alright then. If there’s nothing else to report… everyone except Yoon Seong, you can leave.”

‘Sigh…’

Seems like she has something personal to say to me.

‘Well, I get it. From Yoo Ju’s perspective, it’s like a red alert right now.’

She’s probably going to go on about my safety.

I already have a history of being attacked by the Execution Society. Now that it’s happened a second time, Yoo Ju must be freaking out.

‘…And the Execution Society isn’t exactly a pushover either.’

At Yoo Ju’s words, everyone started to leave the office.

Wi Ho-yeon gave me a slight nod before exiting.

Once even Wi Ho-yeon was gone, Yoo Ju rushed over and hugged me.

“Yoon Seong…”

‘…Called it. Saw this coming.’

“Yoon Seong, are you hurt anywhere? Huh?”

“I’m fine. I already told you during the report. No injuries. If anything, Ho-yeon and the others…”

“To me, the most important person is you.”

“…..”

Yoo Ju’s eyes were overflowing with her obsession for me.

“The others? Of course, they’re precious. But the person who matters most to me is you…!”

“…Are you worried? Scared I might get hurt?”

“How can I not be worried? You were attacked by those outlaws again! And inside a dungeon!”

‘Sorry, it was all staged.’

…I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth, even if it killed me.

Somehow, ever since I faked my death the first time, I keep staging these acts for Yoo Ju.

“I… I… I can’t live if something happens to you. I’d just die too… So please, don’t get hurt. Okay?”

“Got it. I’m fine, aren’t I?”

My nonchalant response must have made her think I was being careless, as Yoo Ju’s eyebrows twitched in annoyance.

“…Don’t take this lightly. Yoon Seong, if something happens to you… I…”

“……”

“I’ll follow you even in death.”

‘That’s kinda scary.’

Her eyes, locked with mine, looked way too serious for that to be a joke.

“…Yoo Ju.”

“Yeah.”

“I love you.”

“Wh-what? Ah…”

Yoo Ju short-circuited at the sudden confession.

…Well, since things have come to this, and there’s no going back in my relationship with Yoo Ju, I figured it’d be better to make her depend on me.

‘No turning back now.’

“But don’t talk about following me in death. It makes me sad.”

As I spoke, I moved my hands to her waist and hips.

“Ah… Yu, Yoon Seong… Hng…”

Just a slight touch, and she buried her face in my chest, flustered.

I could clearly feel Yoo Ju’s breathing getting heavier.

Plus, the way she was rubbing her legs together made it seem like she was getting worked up.

“Got it?”

“Yes… I got it…”

‘That’s enough.’

“Good. Anyway, if you’re that worried, just protect me. Okay?”

“Okay… I’ll protect you. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you… So please…”

Yoo Ju seemed to be hoping for something, but I had no intention of doing anything in the office at this hour.

“Nope. That’s it.”

“That’s… so mean…”

Since Yoo Ju didn’t seem like she’d give up easily, I kissed her.

“Hng…!”

It was more of a sloppy kiss than a simple peck.

“…There, that should hold you over. Be good, okay?”

Yoo Ju nodded slowly, her face dazed.

…I realized a good way to control Yoo Ju.

******

“Damn it!”

Woo Seo-heun couldn’t help but curse as soon as she entered her room.

“What the hell is going on!”

Why did she have to get attacked by other outlaws of all things in that situation?

‘And who the hell was that woman?!’

The masked woman who attacked her.

Her level of martial power was beyond that of a ranker, making her more than just an ordinary outlaw.

‘…There’s a high chance she’s the one who wiped out the Predator Clan.’

The Predator Clan massacre was already a deeply mysterious case.

Those with a keen eye could tell that it wasn’t the work of a group but of a single individual.

Of course, it was natural to assume that person had an assassin-type job.

After all, it was impossible to pull off something like that without leaving a trace unless you were an assassin.

“Sigh…”

She was already annoyed by Lee Yun-seong suddenly suggesting a dungeon trip, but she never expected to get attacked by fellow outlaws.

‘First, I need to make contact.’

…Staying in Eternity any longer was dangerous.

Luckily, this time things went smoothly, but she could sense the faint wariness in Yoo Ju and the Sword Monarch’s eyes.

‘Either move the plan forward or change it.’

*Click.*

– What’s going on? The scheduled date hasn’t arrived yet.

“…It’s urgent. First, let me ask you something. Did you send the ones who attacked this time?”

– …Attack? What are you talking about?

‘Figures.’

She asked just in case, but as expected, they weren’t sent by her side.

“I suddenly had to go to a dungeon, and there, I was attacked by other outlaws.”

– A dungeon trip? Why didn’t you report it?

“Ugh, because there was no time to report!”





I didn’t have time, okay? And it’s not that I didn’t report, I couldn’t, you damn b*tch.

– ……

Got it? And because of the attack, our abilities got exposed!

– Abilities got exposed?

Yeah. One of the attackers was on a whole other level.

– I don’t get it. Woo Seo-heun, someone at your level is saying that?

…You wouldn’t understand unless you faced them yourself. They were an assassin-type, so the matchup wasn’t great, but all I could do was hold on.

– Weird. And you’re saying that person is an outlaw? I don’t know anyone like that in the Execution Society.

I don’t know. They wore a mask, attacked Eternity in the dungeon—if they’re not an outlaw, why would they do that?

– ……

Eternity is actually suspecting that the Execution Society sent them. They’re on high alert because of this.

– Ugh… What kind of mess is this?

Even though the Execution Society didn’t attack, we’re getting blamed for it.

If you feel that way, imagine how I feel. I thought there was some plan I wasn’t briefed on.

– ……

Anyway, I need you to change the plan.

– Change the plan?

Isn’t that obvious? You want me to keep doing this in this situation?

– Woo Seo-heun, that’s too hasty…

Shut up! I’m in enemy territory right now! And Yoo Ju and the Sword Monarch are on high alert. Staying in Eternity is dangerous.

– Is it because your abilities were exposed?

Yeah. They don’t suspect the Execution Society yet, but…

– I get what you’re saying. But you need to stay in Eternity.

What? Are you kidding me? Did you even hear what I said?

– Calm down and listen. If you suddenly disappear from Eternity, it’ll look like an outside force attacked them.

Ugh…

Woo Seo-heun was annoyed but understood.

From Eternity’s perspective, they were attacked by an unknown force. And if she suddenly disappears?

It’s practically giving up on the plan.

Swallowing her frustration, Woo Seo-heun spoke.

So what do we do? Keep going like this?

– … Let’s move the plan forward.

…How?

After a brief silence, the woman on the other end continued.

– First, what about that guy Lee Yun-seong?

I don’t know. He seems halfway on board… but he’s definitely a playboy.

– …A playboy?

A confused voice at the mention of “playboy.”

…Whatever. Anyway, Lee Yun-seong seems halfway on board. He’s all over the place when he sees a woman.

– Not bad. Then let’s do this.

Woo Seo-heun waited silently.

– We have a deal with Gwi Chang, but… given the situation, saving the Sword Monarch is too much. Let’s just focus on Lee Yun-seong.

…What about the Sword Monarch? Gwi Chang won’t stay quiet. That pervert will go crazy if we don’t hand her over. He killed Jo Yeon-joo just for that.

– …I’m not saying we’re giving up on the Sword Monarch. We’ll delay it. Just lure Lee Yun-seong out for now.

…And then?

– Obviously, we’ll take him to the boss.

…I don’t get it. All this trouble just to catch one guy?

– …There’s something the boss wants to test.

Test what?

– I can’t tell you the details.

Ugh, what the hell? Are you drawing lines now?

– …It’s the boss’s order.

Ugh… Hang up.

Without waiting for a reply, Woo Seo-heun cut the communication.

“Damn b*tch…”

******

Right after the communication with Woo Seo-heun ended, the woman knelt on one knee and spoke to the man beside her.

…My apologies, boss. About what you want to test…

…It’s strange.

Huh?

The group that attacked Woo Seo-heun, especially the masked woman.

…What about her?

There’s a high chance she’s the one who wiped out the Predator Clan.

…May I ask why you think that?

Her job is assassin-type. She has combat power surpassing Woo Seo-heun.

…..

She’s definitely at a ranker’s level… It might not be her, but I think she’s behind the Predator Clan massacre.

…Impressive. With just that information…

Despite the woman’s admiring gaze, the man’s expression remained grim.

No, but there’s a problem with this conclusion.

Huh?

I was sure the one behind the Predator Clan massacre was Lee Yun-seong’s backer. If that’s the case, there’s no reason to attack Eternity.

So you’re saying…

I don’t know why they attacked Eternity, but that woman can’t be Lee Yun-seong’s backer. If she were, there’d be no reason to attack Eternity.

…Then what do you plan to do?

We’ll reduce Eternity’s and our forces. Including Gwi Chang.

But… Gwi Chang won’t follow us unless we hand over the Sword Monarch.

Doesn’t matter. We’ll trick him.

What do you mean?

The Sword Monarch is Lee Yun-seong’s escort. If we capture Lee Yun-seong, the Sword Monarch will move, and we’ll feed that info to Gwi Chang. He’ll go crazy and go after her.

…..

He’s that kind of guy, after all.